Off-spin all-rounder Moeen Ali's return to Test cricket has been confirmed as England named their playing eleven for the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston. In the lineup announced two days ahead of the series opener, Ali will make a comeback to Test cricket, replacing the injured Jack Leach at his home ground. Ali accepted the captain Ben Stokes' SOS call after Leach was ruled out due to a stress fracture in his lower back.
Pacers James Anderson and Ollie Robinson also make their way back into the side after missing the ten-wicket win over Ireland at Lord's due to groin and ankle niggles. Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue make way for the returning duo.
Stuart Broad, who impressed with a five-wicket haul against Ireland, gets the nod over Mark Wood and will have the opportunity to outsmart David Warner once again. Broad dismissed the veteran Australia opener seven times in ten innings during the last Ashes series in England in 2019.
The rest of England's top seven remains unchanged, with Ben Duckett and Harry Brook set to make their Ashes debuts, while Jonny Bairstow takes up the wicketkeeping duties.
Australia, aiming to win an Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001, will be eager to triumph in 2023 after the last series in 2019 ended in a draw. England, led by Ben Stokes, seeks to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2015. Under the captain-coach duo of Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England has been in fine form, winning 11 of their last 13 Tests.
Following the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston from June 16 to 20, the remaining matches will be held at Lord's (June 28 to July 2), Headingley (July 6 to 10), Old Trafford (July 19 to 23), and The Oval (July 27 to 31). The stage is set for an exhilarating battle between these two cricketing powerhouses as they vie for supremacy in the Ashes series.
England's playing XI for first Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonathan Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, and James Anderson